Дневник незначительного лица
Chapter 13
Iaskedherwhatshewaslaughingat,andshesaidthecardwasneverdirectedtomeatall.Itwas“L.Pooter,”not“C.Pooter.”Lupinaskedtolookatthedirectionandthecard,andexclaimed,withalaugh:“Ohyes,Guv.,it’smeantforme.”
Isaid:“AreyouinthehabitofreceivinginsultingChristmascards?”Hereplied:“Ohyes,andofsendingthem,too.”
IntheeveningGowingcalled,andsaidheenjoyedhimselfverymuchlastnight.Itooktheopportunitytoconfideinhim,asanoldfriend,abouttheviciouspunchlastnight.Heburstoutlaughing,andsaid:“Oh,itwasyourhead,wasit?IknowIaccidentallyhitsomething,butIthoughtitwasabrickwall.”ItoldhimIfelthurt,inbothsensesoftheexpression.
December30,Sunday.—LupinspentthewholedaywiththeMutlars.Heseemedrathercheerfulintheevening,soIsaid:“I’mgladtoseeyousohappy,Lupin.”Heanswered:“Well,Daisyisasplendidgirl,butIwasobligedtotakeheroldfoolofafatherdownapeg.Whatwithhismeannessoverhiscigars,hisstinginessoverhisdrinks,hisfarthingeconomyinturningdownthegasifyouonlyquittheroomforasecond,writingtooneonhalf-sheetsofnote-paper,stickingtheremnantofthelastcakeofsoapontothenewcake,puttingtwobricksoneachsideofthefireplace,andhisgeneral‘outside-halfpenny-‘busness,’Iwascompelledtolethimhaveabitofmymind.”Isaid:“Lupin,youarenotmuchmorethanaboy;Ihopeyouwon’trepentit.”
December31.—ThelastdayoftheOldYear.
